Support for washboards



1947- J. F. CAMPANELL EI'AL ,539

SUPPORT FOR WASHBOARDS Filed Feb. 14, 1945 1. DL N A W WLA m w V A .NmC x M 5 m a c r. FN T N 4 z m Patented Nov. 25, 1947 .SUPPORT FOR WASHBOARBS John F. Campanell and Blanche Campanell, Audobon' Village, N. J.

Application February 14, 1945,-SerialNo; 577,834

1 1 Claim.

TThis invention relates to washboards and isconcerned primarily with the idea of detachablylsecuring a washboard in effective position on the wall of a wash tub.

The construction of wash tubs is fairly well standardized and a wash tub such as is commonly employed for laundry purposes ordinarily includes an inclined front wall. In washing clothes in the tub, it has been the practice to employ the conventional washboard, which rests against this inclined front wall. However, during the washing operations, considerable difliculty and inconvenience has been experienced due to the fact that the washboard will not of itself remain in position. It is necessary to hold it in place against the disturbing effects of the laundry operations.

With these conditions in mind, this invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of a washboard together with means for detachably securing the board in effective position on the front inclined wall of a wash tub.

More in detail the invention has as an objective the provision in a washboard of attaching means comprising a U-shaped clamp having a pair of spaced legs joined at the top by a bend. One of these legs is secured to the washboard, while the bend engages the top edge of the tub wall. The other leg engages the exterior surface of the tub wall.

Still another object of the invention is the pro vision in a washboard of the character aforesaid of attaching means of the type noted which includes clamping means on the outer leg for establishing a clamping relation with respect to the tub wall. This clamping means may take the form of a screw having an operating member at its outer end and an inner end which engages the tub wall. This screw passes through the outer leg of the U-shaped attaching member.

In carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment, a pair of the U-shaped attaching members will preferably be employed. one being located at each side edge of the washboard.

Various other more detailed objects and advan tages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted thoughts in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a washboard having a pair of U-shaped attaching members anchored to the back thereof, with each attaching member having a free leg carrying a clamp adapted to engage a wall of a wash tub.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may-be hadto the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a section through a wash tub with a washboard detachably applied thereto in accordance with the precepts of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the washboard per se.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, a wash tub is illustrated in Fig. 1 and referred to in its entirety by the reference character T. The tub T includes the usual inclined front wall Hi. It is to this front wall [0 that a washboard is to be applied in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

The washboard is identified as a Whole by the reference character W. The washboard W includes side pieces II between which extends the front corrugated rubbing surface l2. Adjacent to the top edge of the washboard W and on the back or rear edges of the side pieces I I, the latter are cut away to form recesses IS.

A U-shaped attaching member is referred to in its entirety by the reference character U. A pair of these attaching members are employed, there being one attaching member U for each of the side pieces ll, One of these U-shaped attaching members comprises a short front leg M, which is received in the recess E3 of the side piece H to which the particular attaching member is secured. Any preferred fastening means may be employed to permanently secure the leg M to theside-piece H in the recess l3, such as ordinary screws. Integrally joined to this leg is is a bend l5 and depending downwardly from the bend I5 is an outer longer leg [6. The lower end of the leg I6 is formed with a'threaded opening into which is screwed a clamping member ll, havin a wing operating nut l8.

When the washboard W is applied to the wall ll) of the tub, this wall Ill is received between the legs [4 and iii of the attaching members U, while the bends l5 engage the top edge of the wall It. The wing operating nuts 18 may then be employed to establish a clamping relation with respect to the wash tub. Thus, the washboard W is securely held in position during the laundry operations. When its use is no longer required, the clamping screw I! may be loosened and the washboard W removed from the tub T, leaving the tub free and unobstructed.

It is particularly important to note that the outer legs l6 are comparatively longer and thus locate the points of the application of the clamping screws an appreciable distance down the tub wall. This provides for a firm and secure anchorage. This is tempered to allow same to spring back into place.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a washboard, the combination, which comprises spaced parallel longitudinally disposed side rails having recesses at the upper ends and in the rear edges thereof, transverse struts connecting the ends of said side rails, a corrugated scrubbing panel positioned between the said side rails and transverse struts, a pair of parallel inverted U-shaped clip members including flat relatively wide bars with inner and outer legs connected at their upper ends by a cross member mounted on the rear surfaces of said side rails with the inner legs thereof positioned in the said recesses of the rails, wherein the outer legs extend downward parallel to and spaced from the rear surface of the board, and thumb screws threaded in the said outer legs of the clips and spaced from the lower ends thereof.

JOHN F. CAMPANELL. I BLANCHE H. CAMPANELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date 554,177 Games et al Feb. 4, 1896 603,252 Briggs May 3, 1898 903,950 Benson Nov. 17, 1908 962,046 Penovi et a1 June 21, 1910 979,371 Bond Dec. 20, 1910 1,249,402 Hovey Dec. 11, 1917 

